Busia, Uganda

Capital City

Busia is a border town that serves as the main commercial and administrative hub of the region, but the reality on the ground is a far cry from the idyllic picture. With a population of over 64,900 as of 2020 and growing at nearly 3% annually, the town is grappling with the challenges of rapid urbanization. The border crossing here is the busiest in the East African Community, processing over $220 million worth of Ugandan exports in 2016-2017 alone. However, bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the 2-year construction timeline for the new one-stop border post. Busia may work for those seeking economic opportunity at the gateway to Kenya, but it's not for the faint of heart.